To make things even more challenging, the former Manchester United and Everton boss will be watching this game from the stands as he serves a touch-line ban, meaning he cannot even communicate with his players in the changing rooms at half time.

Sunderland's form this season

L L D L L L D L L L

Goals for: 7

Goals against: 20

Things look ominous for Moyes, who is understood to have been unhappy with much of the running of the club in his short time in charge, with pre-season preparations and transfers leaving his squad ill-equipped to successfully beat the drop again.

Sunderland narrowly survived under Allardyce last season, but years of only just doing enough to escape relegation seem to have caught up with them.